Uses stolen card for shopping spree

A Sarnia man’s illegal shopping spree ended when police pulled over a city bus to arrest him.

James Allan White, 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Sarnia court to use of a stolen credit card and possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $500.

On Sept. 18 a mall security guard called police after White’s first question upon entering several stores was whether they had a tap-and-go feature for credit cards. The guard believed White was using a stolen credit card and called police.

Meanwhile a man had called police to report his wallet had been stolen from his vehicle.

White was seen boarding a bus with two women carrying bags of merchandise.

A police officer stopped the bus to question the trio.

Among the bags was the stolen wallet and receipts indicating the wallet owner’s credit card had been used repeatedly.

Goods totaling $755 had been bought with the stolen card .

A search of White found a small amount of the stimulant methamphetamine.

Drug abuse was driving the crime, said defence lawyer James Guggisberg.

White told the court he wants help for his drug abuse to prevent a repetition of the crime.

White had no prior drug convictions.

Until White gets a handle on the drug abuse, his situation will continue, said Justice Mark Hornblower.

A $500 fine was imposed for the drug possession. White was sentenced to the equivalent of 30 days he had spent in pre-sentence custody for the credit-card offence.

A year’s probation was also imposed when White must take substance-abuse counseling while staying away from drugs and the two women.